Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-07-16

The Greatest Effort In the Life Of q
Popular Maryland Congressman.

Il
The Greatest Effsrt In the Life Of q
| Popular Maryland Congressman.
/ From the New York Sun.
| Congressman Lewis e. McComas of the Sixth
] Maryland district, was noticeable figure at the
1 Gilsey House yesterday. He has gained some rep
utation legislator, but his chief title to fame
rests on the fact that he is the champion baby
kisser south OF Mason and Dixon's line. He has,
during his eight years In public life, reduced baby
kissing to fine art, and to his skill in this art are
mainly due his election and reelection TO Con-
gress. Before Mr.. McComas became the republi-
standard bearer, eight years ago. the sixth dis
! trict had gone regularly democratic. Since that
| time the republicans have carried It.
Mr.. McComas did not invent baby kissing as q
campaign art Statesmen have practiced 1t from
the FIRST days of the republic. But to him ia due
The average seeker OF votes goes about kissing
promiscuous babies with all the nilartty which
would marx his approach to the dentists chair
He folds his hands behind his back, closes his eyes
clenches his teeth, as II determined to die hard,
ducks his head and, as a general thing, bumps
against the little ones and raises howl. Mr.
McConas nlodus operandi Is as different from
this bungiing as MISSIONER is from a school,
girls daub. He goes about the operation as II 1t
were thing OF perennial joy. No matter how
dirty or how SOre-faced the baby, or how much 1t
scratches and squeals, he manages TO throw into
the kiss an amount OF tenderness that Is to
win the parents hearts Here IS the operation
in detail as testified To by thousands OF eyew1U-
neSSeS:
First of all, Mr.. McComas stands over the baby,
and beams on it with his large, tender hazel eyes
Then, as If moved by sudden and irresistible i'm
pulse OF affection he SnatcheS the little to his
bosom with all the fervor Of the deserted stage
mother. After pressing il for a moment with head
bowed in emotion, he holds 1t In front OF him in a
horizontal position beams once more on the little
face; then his head slowly descends, there is an
agoniztng pause before the big moustache
reaches the little lips, the angels lowering about
suspend the napping OF their wings, d ng-drawn
sigh OF Joy proceeds from the Congressnan's
breast, a low: sweet lingering, honey-suggestinng
Is again pressed TO the manly bosom and the final
move-perhaps the most important ofall-is made.
Before handing the baby back TO its proud parents
he aZeS at ii as IL IL were the most precious thing
In The world and then fixes his eyes the parents
with an expression which, II translated into words,
would read: "And just think. you are the parent
OF this little angel. How do envy you!"
Occasionally Hr. McComas add, new scene to
the act when the Tote Oh the father OF the baby Is
very doubtful. Thia scene consists OF walking
slowly TO The door, after the baby is deposited III
the cradle, and there, as If forced by an over
whelmng flood OF affection, TO rush back TO the
little one and take Il final kiss. Any one who has
seen the Congressman perform this extra act must
unhesitatingly pronounce him one OF the greatest
actors OF the age. That he has wonderful con-
troll Of his features need hardly be told The dirt
lest mouth that ever adorned a baby can't make
him blink The greatest test to which this facial
control ever put occurred last October at the
Frederick County Fair in Maryland, at the time
Mr.. AcComaS was having hard tight for re-elec-
ton TO Congress, his opponent being Col. Victor
Baughman, perhaps the most popular democrat in
Maryland. The rivals, OF course, attended the
Frederick Fair, and settled down to day or hand
shaking and baby kissing amOug the farmers
BoIn seemed To meet with equal success. McCo-
mas had found tOcman worthy or his steel.
Toward the end or the day. however the merits
OF the rival baby kiS5erS were put TO terrible
test. About the same time they came upon a
farmer and his wife with baby whose hideouS
red and sore lips would deter the bravest Of
men from approaching IL. Col Bau-hman came
up 10 the group nrSt, shook hands with the man,
glanced at the caricature OF baby. As lit did so
a perceptible shudder passed over his strong
frame. several friends who stood near him en-
Outraged the brave colonel with: "Go 1t, Wei"
ut WON'T last long," and similar tnsplriting
words. Baughman did seem to grow inspirited,
too, for he took the child In his arms and pre-
pared for the awful deed. By this time large
crowd had gathered, and In IL were many OF Mr..
McCOmas' men who were willing TO bet freely
that Baughman would not have the nerve to go
through with the task. The colonel glanced at
the baby again, again he shuddered, and again
look or determination came into his face. Finally
he closed his eyes, cnched his teeth, and let his
lead failbut alas. before his lips reached the
turned face the colonel forced by that incompre-
hensibe instinct which iInpels men to look upon
the most repulsive objects, took another glance at
the baby. This time ii was TOO much for him. He
grew pale, trembled, and handed the child back
with an uncomfortable expression OF loauhng.
Just then McComas came up, and the crowd bent
forward with breathless interest to see how the
second knight would bear himself in The arena.
Baughman stood near by, the most interested of
all Bets OF five TO one that McCOmaS wouldn't do
1T found few takers. The congressman first
| did the beaming act as usual, then the pressing
act then the horizontal act; but here he grew pale
and shade OF terror crept into his melting smile.
Would he Succumb like his rival? Would he turn
in disgust from those sore lips on that early
tomato face? Look! He beams once more; his
head slowly descends in the usual way; there Is
the customary agonizing pause, and-ah yesi all
honor 70 thee, bold McCOmaS-there Is heard the
long drawn out smack Victory! The republicans
break into suppressed cheer. Baughman and
his followers retire discounted. McComaS was
elected TO Congress.
When the Congressman was asked by reporter
yesterday how he got through the ordeal he said,
with a wry face:
al managed TO kiss the baby-but-er-I'u be
ID IL hankered after il